Water-heating apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. JOHNSON. WATER HEATING APPARATUS.

0 4 wit u 0 u ON LINE x-X (No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. S. JOHNSON. WATER HEATING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VARREN S. JOHNSON, OF MILVAUKEE, XVISCONSIN.

WATER-H EATING APPARATUS.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,111, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed November 13, 1888- Serial No. 290,736. (No model.)

.the circulating-pipes is heated at one end of the system by means of steam; and the invention consists in certain improved details of construct-ion hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide for the eifective and economical application of steam heat to the water, to insure the constant circulation of the water, and to provide for the direct heating of the water by means of a fire in the event of afailure of the steamsupply.

My system is applicable to house-heating, to the heating of railway-cars, and to other purposes. For the purposes of illustration 1 have shown the same applied to a railway-car. hen thus applied, the steam may be received either from the boiler of the locomotive, a special boiler on the train, or stationary boilers located at intervals along the line of the road.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a heater constructed on my plan, the device for controlling the circulation of the water being shown in vertical central section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the heater with portions shown in vertical central section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a: 00 of Fig. 2, looking in a downward direction. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the internal heating-cylinder with portions broken away to show its construction. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the water-circulating devices on the line 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through ene end of a railway-car having my apparatus therein. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line z z of Fig. 6, showing the wind-engine,by which the circulating device is operated. Fig. 8 is a vertical central section on the line 2' 2, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a view showing in perspective a part of one of the water rings or sections.

Referring to Fig. 6, A represents the body of an ordinary railway-car, B my improved heater or furnace, and O a series of water-circulating and radiating pipes extending from the heater throughout the car in any ordi-' nary or approved manner. The arrangement of these water circulating pipes is not of the essence of my invention. They may be arranged as circumstances require, and used either alone or in connection with suitable radiators of ordinary form, their sole purpose being to provide for the distribution of the water and the radiation of the heat therefrom as in other hot-water heating systems.

Referring to the details of the furnace or heater shown in. Figs. 1 to 4, a represents the the base or ash-pit supporting a central firegrate Z) and an external double jacket 0 c, which incloses the metal body or manifold E. This body in the form of an upright tube or hollow cylinder consists of a series of ringlike sections 6, 6, c and c seated one upon another and fastened firmly together. their proximate faces these rings or sections are formed with tubular necks .or bosses e, which register, as shown, so asto permit a free circulation of the water vertically through the successive sections, except the one at the base. f

Into the top of the base-section e, which is intended to receive steam and which has no communication with the interior of the other sections, are screwed vertical pipes f, extending upward through the other sections and their necks. These pipes are carried slightly above the top section, and have their upper ends closed by welding or otherwise to prevent the escape of steam. The projecting upper ends are also threaded externally to receive the cap-nuts 71-, which bear on the top section a for the double purpose of closing the surrounding necks and of binding the sections tightly together,so as to prevent leakage through theircommunicating necks to the exterior.

To insure the tightness of the joints between the necks, packing-rings or gaskets i,

of hard rubber or other suitable material, are introduced between the faces of the necks, as

.0 shown. The water-crrculat1ng pipes C are tapped at one end into the upper section e and at the other end into the lower section 6, as shown in Fig. 2. The basesection e is connected on one side with the steam-supply pipe k, leading to or adapted for connection with a steam-boiler. ()n the opposite side the section 6 is connected to a pipe 7c for carrying away the steam orthe wa-terof condensation resulting therefrom.

Then the apparatus is in operation, the circulating-pipes C and the interior of the sections 0 e 6 around the outside of the pipes f are filled with water. Steam is then introduced through the pipe 76 into the basesection, from which it ascends into and constantly fills the vertical pipes f. These pipes, passing through the upper sections and the water therein, expose a very large radiatingsurface, in consequence of which the heat of the steam is rapidly communicated to the water. The best results are obtained when the pipesfare constructed of copper, which is an excellent conductor of heat.

In order to insure the circulation of the water, I propose to introduce into the circulating system at any suitable point a device for forcibly advancing the water. I prefer to use for this purposea rotary wheel having spiral or oblique blades similar to the blades of an ordinary screw-propeller, as represented at F, Figs. 1 and 8. This screw may be driven from any convenient source of power. When there is a constant supply of steam, I extend the shaft of the screw through the stuffing-box, as shown in Figs 1 and 5, into a chamber m, where it is provided with blades n. The chamber m is connected with the steam-supply pipe in such manner that the steam flowing to the heater acts upon the blades n, compelling them to revolve, and thereby turn the screw. When the circulating system is an extensive one, requiring a rapid consumption of steam to heat the water, it is found that the movement of the steam is suificiently rapid to insure the rotation of the blades 72.

In place of the devices above described for turning the screw this shaft may be extended to the top of the car or building, as shown in Fig. 6, and there connected to an ordinary wind-engine or wind-wheel G, such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that the movement of the external air or the movement of the wheel through the air will cause the rotation of the circulating-screw.

In the event of the failure or insufficiency of the steam-supply the water in the circulating system may be heated by means of a fire built within the body E upon the grate b. To this end the heater is provided with the usual smoke-pipe at the top and with the regulating-dampers 2' and j of the customary form, such as shown in the drawings, or of other suitable form. The products of combustion pass upward within the rings or watersections, and also through the spaces between their necks to the exterior.

I am aware that heaters have been constructed in various forms with steam-radiating pipes extended into and through waterchambers, and also that pumps and other devices driven from external motors have been used to produce a positive circulation of water in heatingapparatus, and I therefore lay claim only to the following:

1. In a water-heater, the base-ring with steam-pipes leading upward therefrom and closed at their upper ends, in combination with the series of annular water-rings with communicating necks, through which the steam-pipes pass, and the nuts applied to the pipes and holding the parts together, substantially as shown.

2. In combination, the fire-grate, the steamring encircling the same, the series of pipes extending vertically from said ring and closed at the top, and the series of water-rings arranged above the base-rin g and provided with comm unieatin g necks, through which the pipes are loosely passed, whereby the pipes are inclosed wholly within the water-space, a central fire-chamber provided, the free circulation of the water permitted, and the heating of the water by steam provided for.

3. In a water-heater, the grate, the annular steam-ring at the base, and the vertical pipes rising therefrom, in combination with the series of water-rings inclosing said pipes, provided with communicating necks, and formed to leave openings for the passage of the products of combustion outward from the central chamber between the rings.

4. In a water-heater, the combination of a water-containing body, steam-circulating pipes extending therethrough, a water-circulating system, a water-propelling wheel therein, and a wheel for driving the same located in the steam-pipe, whereby the steam current is applied to operate the mechanical device for compelling the circulation of the water.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 25th day of October, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses:

NVARREN S. JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses: \V. OHUBB, L. F. FIsH. 

